Not sure if the Columbia 8 Person Dome Tent is a good choice?
No need to worry. I will be compiling my findings about it, debunking all the reviews found on the internet, then exposing the real quality.
Is this tent constructed well, going to hold the rain out easily and stand strong in high winds, or will it crumble in the first gust of wind and leak even in a small downpour?
Keep reading this review to discover the truth!
Columbia 8 Person Dome Tent, Red/Grey
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Functionality
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Waterproof
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Strength
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Value
Summary:
There is way too many cons for a tent in this price range to have. The stakes are weak, the zippers are badly-designed, it contains cancer-causing chemicals, AND they have bad customer service! What more could go wrong? Stay away from the Columbia 8 Person Dome Tent and avoid getting ripped off! Check out this alternative instead.
 Pros |
 Cons |
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Specifications
Product name: COLUMBIA 8 Person Dome Tent, Red/Grey
Cheapest place to buy: Amazon.com
Color: Red/Grey
Size: 8-Person
Rating: 3-Season
Weight: 24.7 pounds
Center Height: 6.4 feet
Main Floor Size: 14 x 8 feet
Packed Size: 96 x 912 x 168 inches
What Is This Tent All About?
This 8-person tent from Columbia possesses a spacious interior, six windows, and a room divider for privacy from other campers.
The whole tent has been described as “your home away from home”, and I can clearly see why!
The outer shell is treated with Omni-Shield and Stain Repellent, ensuring no rain will get inside this tent whatsoever.
There is only one door, but at least it’s big enough for two people to enter and exit at the same time.
And for those of you wondering if it fits any queen-sized air mattresses, it does – 2 of them in fact.
Key Features
Steel & Fiberglass Poles – Fiberglass isn’t all that strong, however, the steel poles more than make up for the lack of strength that the fiberglass provides. Strong poles will make or break a tent in strong gusts of wind
Near-Vertical Walls – The near-vertical walls make the interior of this tent much more livable, providing more headroom so you can quickly and effortlessly move around without grazing the sides
Omni-Shield Fabric – This specific treatment creates a water repellent and stain-resistant barrier. It dries 3-5x faster than traditional tents, resists liquids, and stays light even when wet!
6 Windows – Of course a big tent needs a decent amount of windows, so I’m glad this tent offers 6 of them. These help with ventilation and air flow on the more hotter days
Ground Vent – Simply put, the ground vent draws cold air from the ground and the mesh roof lets the warmer air escape, creating a well-ventilated tent that can handle hot summer days with ease
Stargazing – Having the mesh roof means you can remove the rain fly and view the starry night sky as you drift off to sleep. This is great bonding time for you and your kids too 🙂
Bonuses
Room Divider – Camping with other people can be a pain. The room divider can make it easier for when you’re camping with a group of friends or family members. The room divider is removable if you don’t mind sharing space
E-Port – The e-port allows you to bring an electrical cord into the tent, to power up your electrical devices – mobile phones, tablets, laptops, etc.
Manufacturers 1-Year Warranty – The 1-year warranty covers workmanship defects only, not wear and tear. However, it is still a good bonus nonetheless
What I Find Interesting
The Omni-Shield treatment definitely caught my eye. I haven’t reviewed any tents with this specific feature yet, so I am new to it, probably just like you.
Room dividers are always good for spacious tents as well. They are best for when you’re camping with a group of friends and want to keep your privacy.
Who Should Buy This Tent?
As I’ve already stated above, family campers and friends will enjoy the benefits that this tent offers.
It is created for 8 people, but of course you and I know you’ll be lined up like sardines if you choose to do so.
So if you want to have enough space for equipment and clothes, I recommend a maximum of 5 people or it’s going to be a very tight fit.
Best Place To Buy?
I choose to shop with Amazon.com.
In my honest opinion, they have the best bonuses.
- The 30-day return policy
- Next-day delivery
- Free delivery for US orders
- + more
As you can see, Amazon KNOW how to take care of their customers, and that is where other sites fail to deliver.
I’m a big fan of Amazon and have been for quite some time now, and I’m sure you are as well, considering how long they’ve been around for.
But of course the 30-day return policy is my favorite feature and probably will be for a very long time.
This means you can get a full refund if you decide you don’t like your purchase, while all defects will be repaired, free of charge.
Check The Pricing Details On Amazon
Do I Recommend This Tent?
Absolutely not!
Even though there are SOME beneficial pros, the cons still heavily outweigh them.
This tent has chemicals known to cause cancer and birth defects.
There’s absolutely no way I can contribute to somebody getting sick.
In my honest opinion, it’s best to:
- Stay well away from the Columbia 8 Person Dome Tent
- Get a tent that’s much safer, one that’s not going to make you sick
Alternative/Safer Tents
A much better alternative is the Coleman 8-Person Red Canyon Tent. This one does NOT contain harmful chemicals and is actually much cheaper than the Columbia 8.
The Coleman 8 Person Instant Tent is also a good choice if you’re looking for simple setup and ease of use, because this one provides exactly that and a lot more! The only downside? It’s a little more expensive than the Columbia.
My Final Opinion
It’s really hard to find an 8-person tent in the low + middle price range that performs beyond expectations.
Believe it or not, but I haven’t found one that gives me the WOW factor yet, other than the Coleman 8 Person Instant Tent, of course.
However, it is still expensive, so the Red Canyon Tent might be more your cup of tea.
Wrapping up
The Columbia 8 Person Dome Tent is nowhere near recommended!
Not ONLY does it contain harmful chemicals, but the rest of the cons make this tent unworthy, especially when there’s better alternatives.
Weak stakes, bad zippers, harmful chemicals, and bad customer service – that is far too many cons for a tent in this price range.
Do yourself a favor and stay away from this tent at all costs.
Did I change your decision? Let me know in the comments below.
Cheers.
-Brandon
Camping Mastery
Columbia 8 Person Dome Tent, Red/Grey
-
Functionality
-
Waterproof
-
Strength
-
Value
Summary:
There is way too many cons for a tent in this price range to have. The stakes are weak, the zippers are badly-designed, it contains cancer-causing chemicals, AND they have bad customer service! What more could go wrong? Stay away from the Columbia 8 Person Dome Tent and avoid getting ripped off! Check out this alternative instead.